ZISCH-INTERVIEW with defense attorney Marko Becker about visits to prison and wearing a robe in court.
The Stuttgart Regional Court is the largest court in Baden-Württemberg and one of the largest in Germany. Around 15,000 negotiations are conducted here every year. A judge always needs a judge in addition to the accused and the accused, but every accused, regardless of what he is accused of, has the right to a defense attorney. One of these lawyers is Marko Becker, with whom I, Zisch reporter Robin Herschel from class 4b at the Jengerschule Ehrenkirchen, have arranged to meet for an interview.
Hiss: How do you become a lawyer?
Becker: First you have to do the Abitur and then you have to study law. This concludes with the first state examination and the second state examination. These are both very extensive tests. Then you can specialize if you want. I then chose criminal law for myself. Another specialization would be family law, for example.
Hiss: What are the daily duties of a lawyer?
Becker: Usually the clients, the customers, come to me with a problem. For example, if someone is caught shoplifting and reported. We discuss the problem and I then advise the client on what options there are in court and what consequences he must expect. That’s why I often go to court hearings or sit in my office in the law firm and talk on the phone and write a lot on the computer.
Hiss: What is the difference between lawyer, prosecutor and judge?
Becker: The difference lies in the tasks they perform. The prosecutor pursues whoever did something wrong. He’s conducting the investigation with the police. What is found out comes before the judge who gives the verdict. The lawyer defends the accused.
Hiss: Do you have to go to jail too, if so how often?
Becker: Yes, I am in jail about every two weeks to discuss matters with clients. They are in jail and therefore cannot come to my office, so I drive to them.
Hiss: How do you feel when you go to jail?
Becker: Actually, it’s nothing special for me, because I know that I can get out again. Going to school is just as routine for me as it is for you. I’m not afraid of the inmates, because everything is very safe in prison. If I go in, I’ll be searched like at the airport. Even the chairs are screwed down! The inmates are also searched before our meetings, so there is really no danger. In addition, the prisoners also want me to defend them and get the best out of them in court.
Hiss: How do you feel when you face a murderer?
Becker: In principle, it’s only part of my work. I am not afraid of these people. Often these people are actually quite normal like you and me, even if they have done something bad.
Hiss: Why did you choose this profession?
Becker: Because it is very diverse and exciting! You are constantly dealing with a wide variety of people, you discuss a lot and, above all, you can make a difference.
Hiss: What do you particularly enjoy in your job?
Becker: I always enjoy the court hearings.
Hiss: Why do you defend people who have done something really bad, such as a murderer?
Becker: Because these people in our country also have a right to defense. In addition, at the beginning you often don’t know whether someone is guilty or innocent. Imagine how bad it would be if someone were wrongly convicted for having no defense. In addition, someone can die in an accident, for example, without intent. Then of course there are cases that affect me too. But then it’s part of my job to deal with it professionally!
Hiss: Why do you wear such strange clothes in court?
Becker: These strange clothes are called robes. They serve to ensure that nobody can make a special impression with their own clothes. For example, if a lawyer wears a very expensive and fancy suit, some might conclude that he has to be a very good lawyer and vice versa. In the past, people even wore wigs.
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